National

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of students, educators and community members have turned out for a counter-protest against the anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church at a District of Columbia high school.

Westboro targeted Wilson High School for a protest over the school's annual Pride Day event. About a dozen representatives of the Kansas-based church picketed near the school on Monday morning. The church claims that tolerance of homosexuality invokes the wrath of God.

Wilson principal Pete Cahall announced to students that he is gay last week during its Pride Day festivities. Cahall says the students "should be proud of themselves" for the turnout Monday morning.

Westboro member Rachel Hockenbarger called Cahall's coming out "shameful." The protest was one of several that Westboro had planned in Washington on Monday.